Many Africans were affected by the massive drought in the early 1980’s. In 1985, a group of dedicated people from the Raleigh/Durham area went on a fact-finding trip to find an area that wanted assistance in becoming more self-sufficient. The rural Shinyanga Region was selected and Project Tanzania was born.
WRAL-TV produced an hour-long documentary that introduced North Carolinians to the situation in Shinyanga and identified ways to help Tanzanians help themselves. This wasn’t another hand-out program, but a way to give these people a hand up to a better life.
This video is a sampling of news reports in 1985 and 1986 about the efforts to help the people in Tanzania.
WRAL-TV received the 1986 World Hunger Media Award for the documentary “Tanzani: A Need Beyond Hunger.”

More Highlights for Project Tanzania

“Project Tanzania” garnered an award from the National Education Association. WRAL-TV Public Affairs Director, Waltye Rasulala accepts the award on behalf of Capitol Broadcasting Company. Teacher, Eddie Davis, led the educational piece of Project Tanzania.
Project Tanzania was an ongoing effort to help people in the East African nation of Tanzania overcome the effects of hunger, drought and poverty.

Here are several short vignettes identifying the needs in the impoverished region of Tanzania in east Africa. Producer Joan Baron and writer Lib Williard developed these short stories to help educate the public. Project Tanzania received national recognition for fostering international understanding through community involvement, including: The World Hunger Award, the National Education Association Award for the Advancement of Learning through Broadcasting, a Presidential Citation for Private Sector Initiatives and the International Understanding Award from the North Carolina Center for International Understanding.

Jim Goodmon, President and CEO of Capitol Broadcasting Company was deeply moved by the suffering of many Africans that were affected by the massive drought in the early 1980′s. In 1985, a group of dedicated people went on a fact-finding trip to find an area that wanted assistance in becoming more self-sufficient.
North Carolinians responded with generosity and compassion, funding both a Reforestation Program and a Scholarship Program. Educational supplies, medical supplies and essential health care materials donated by many school children and other North Carolinians reached schools, clinics and health care centers in rural Shinyanga Region villages.
Project Tanzania has received national recognition for fostering international understanding through community involvement, including: The World Hunger Award, the National Education Association Award for the Advancement of Learning through Broadcasting, a Presidential Citation for Private Sector Initiatives and the International Understanding Award from the North Carolina Center for International Understanding.

Waltye Rasulala, Director of WRAL-TV Public Affairs, reports from Tanzania. Spearheaded by Capitol Broadcasting Company with the help of the Raleigh Catholic Dioces and Catholic Relief Services. Three volunteers; teacher, farmer, doctor traveled to Tanzania to provide services to the people of Tanzania and also enlighten North Carolinians to the Tanzanian’s plight.

Related Highlights

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